The Care and Conservation of Antique Prints
The care and preservation of valuable antique prints can be a vexing issue for collectors. However, a healthy dose of restraint, along with a little common sense, goes a long way toward making sure that your special collection remains preserved for generations to come. Whether your antique print is a copperplate engraving, lithography, mezzotint, or another production process, the basics of caring for it are essentially the same. The average collector needs to be aware of the four major keys of good conservation. They are: handling, repairs, framing, and storage. By following these simple rules, your prized possessions should retain their good condition and value. Handling At the top of the list -- and for a very good reason -- is damage that is done by careless handling. Because the paper itself is so fragile, when handling an antique print great care must be exercised. Think about what would happen if you accidentally tapped the edge of an antique print against a sharp corner, such as the edge of a desk. It most likely would cause serious chipping, which could be catastrophic to your print. However, all that's needed to solve this problem is a little bit of common sense. * First of all, unless you have the time and space to do so, don't work with your prints. For example, don't handle them at the same time your toddler needs attention! * Second, make sure you have the space to put them down safely, such as a large table. * Third, wear thin cotton gloves, available from framing supply stores. * And last, but not least, if you're dealing with expensive prints, it's a good idea to have each print stored loosely (not encapsulated) in a Mylar sleeve. Mylar -- a crystal-clear, polyester film -- is very easy to find on the Internet. However, since Mylar does not interact chemically with the print, it's important to specify Mylar only. Beware of imitations. Repairs Almost all collectors of antique prints, at some point in time, are tempted to fix a defect by themselves. This, however, is never a good idea. All of the actions commonly attempted on antique prints -- the removal of stains, wrinkles, and pencil marks, the mending of a tear, the filling of a hole, or, heaven forbid, the whitening of a darkened piece of paper -- have the potential to cause irreversible damage. In addition to causing serious damage, these "fixes" may seriously reduce or even eliminate the value of a given piece. Professional conservators, who spend years learning how to perform these complex tasks correctly, will be the first to tell you of the perils they face with each job so leave the restoration to the professionals. Framing Since framing is another area that can cause trouble for the collector, here are a few easy tips to ensure a successful framing project: * Use a good framer. Get a recommendation from a local museum. Ask friends and acquaintances for recommendations and don't be afraid to shop around. * Expect to pay a bit more. Although good framing is expensive, it should outlast all of us. * You must use anti-UV or conservation framing glass, which deflects most of the harmful light that can destroy paper over time. * When using a matboard, use archival quality matboard only, so that it doesn't chemically interact with the print. * You must never allow antique paper to be adhered in any way to a regular backing board, therefore, you must insist on archival quality backing board. * Don't hang your finished piece in direct sunlight, near a direct heat source, or in a humid area such as a bathroom. Storage When done correctly framing is one of the best ways of storing antique works of art on paper. Due to its expense and demand for space, it's not always the right solution for collectors. Good, long-term storage can be accomplished by keeping antique prints in Mylar, stored flat, in a dry, cool space. Excessive heat and excessive humidity are enemies of antique paper, however many homes today are climatized to avoid such excessive conditions. The best solution -- if you need to store a number of loose prints -- is to use one of the many excellent archival boxes that are available on the market today. Learn The Basics Even the newest collector -- after a little bit of practice -- can quickly master the basics of good care for antique prints. Remember, your greatest ally is common sense and your worst enemy will be the dangers posed by poor handling. By learning the basics, you'll know how to treat your antique print with the respect it deserves, bring pleasure and joy for many generations to come. Handle with care! | |